Madam, - Liam Ó Gógáin, (August 29th), criticises the powers of social workers. These powers came about because of rampant child abuse.
The successful Mary Ellen case in New York in 1875, when an abused child was brought to the courts under animal welfare legislation, resulted in child protection legislation across the western world. A vigorous child-saving movement emerged, including organisations such as Barnardo's, the ISPCC (then NSPCC) and many others, which sought to uphold children's rights and insist they be treated as citizens with a right to care and protection by the State.
Unfortunately, we didn't come to this enlightened position in Ireland until the late 20th century, when we enacted the Child Care Act, 1991.
We are all now sadly aware of the horrifying abuses visited upon Irish children in the care of religious charities during the 20th century. If we had social workers and a welfare state, like our European neighbours, these terrible crimes might not have been allowed to happen. . - Yours, etc,
Prof FRED POWELL, Department of Applied Social Studies, UCC, Cork.